Can You Now Hire Someone to Carry Your Shopping Bags in Delhi? Here’s How It Works

A new Delhi start-up called CarryMen is doing something that sounds like a luxury but is quickly proving its practical value.

For a modest fee, shoppers in crowded markets can hire a trained assistant to carry their bags and handle the physical demands of a full day's shopping. The idea is simple. The conversation it has sparked is anything but.

What Is CarryMen and How Did It Start?

CarryMen was launched in April by two Delhi-based friends, Ritu Kandari Srivastava and Kanishka Malhotra, both mothers of toddlers.

The idea came after the two struggled to manage prams and shopping bags during a trip to Lajpat Nagar. They secured permissions from the municipal corporation and police, set up a kiosk, and launched after a month of staff training.

How Does the Service Work?

The service currently operates in Lajpat Nagar market. CarryMen charges start with an introductory package 79 rupees for 30 minutes and reach up to 399 rupees for 4 hours for longer sessions.

Add-on convenience packages require a direct quote. Trained assistants carry bags, push prams, queue at food counters, and guide customers through the market. All workers are full-time salaried employees, not gig workers.

Who Is Using It?

The majority of customers in the first six weeks have been pregnant women, elderly shoppers, parents with young children, and people with disabilities.

The start-up receives around six bookings on weekdays and eight to nine on weekends.

Is This Just Entitlement in Action?

Critics have called it peak affluent entitlement, with some labelling assistants glorified coolies.

Co-founder Ritu pushed back, telling the BBC that all staff are salaried and no one is coerced. But criticism revolves around whether fair conditions would hold once the start-up scales up.

Can This Model Scale?

CarryMen plans to expand to Chandni Chowk in July, followed by other Delhi markets. Bhatia cautioned, however, that many start-ups begin with strong worker benefits before rolling them back under funding pressure, as per the BBC.

What Does This Say About Delhi's Markets?

CarryMen did not create a problem. It found a business in one that has existed for decades. Uneven footpaths, vendor encroachments, and zero accessibility support define most Delhi bazaars. It is why the city made them necessary in the first place.

(With inputs from yMedia)